Can Bacteria Cause Obesity and Diabetes?

We have all heard that we are what we eat. New research
hints that we become what (or how) we digest. Scientists have identified
particular bacteria that seem to trigger obesity and diabetes.

Researchers in Brazil have studied the medical
foundations for diabetes and obesity (generally called metabolic disease) in
mice. The scientists use mice because it turns out that it is possible to breed
genetically modified mice that are resistant to diabetes. By "knocking out"
a particular gene sequence in the mouse chromosome, mice were born with a biological
protection from developing diabetes. This genetic change meant that mice that
would have otherwise developed diabetes because of their diet and activity
level would remain healthy.

To the surprise of the scientists however, these
genetically protected mice developed diabetes when their digestive bacteria
included one particular strain. By treating these mice with powerful antibiotics,
which killed all of the digestive bacteria, the mice returned to health. To
further validate their theory, the scientists then transplanted the suspect bacteria
from diabetic mice to healthy mice. The recipient mice promptly developed
diabetes. It seemed clear to the researchers that these microbes played some
role in the development of metabolic disease or diabetes.

Now a lot of things work when experimenting with mice
that don't work when applied to humans. Nobody suggests using this genetic
knock out technique on people or trying to nuke our stomach bacteria to
eliminate obesity and diabetes. On the other hand, this is pretty compelling
evidence that our stomach bacteria do play an important role in our health and
the onset of metabolic disease.

Not too long ago, researchers developed an antibiotic
treatment for ulcers. This cured a disease that previously could only be
treated with diet and antacids. The improvement in quality of life for people suffering from ulcers was incredible. More research may lead to a similar type of antibiotic
treatment for metabolic diseases of obesity and diabetes.